"Garchomp, Dragon Claw!"
"Rhydon, Rock Slide!"
Hearing Cynthia's clear command, Ethan turned his head.
Garchomp lunged forward, claws glowing with a fierce blue aura shaped like a dragon's maw. With fluid, serpentine motion, the land shark weaved past tumbling boulders and slashed across the chest of a level 26 Rhydon.
The impact sent Rhydon flying. Seconds later, its trainer—a panicked Rocket grunt—dropped to his knees beside it, wailing.
"My Rhydon!"
Around him lay several more fainted Pokémon, all belonging to Team Rocket.
Cynthia stood tall, looking down at them with scorn. "As long as I'm here, don't even dream of controlling Lavender Town."
She strode forward, Garchomp pacing at her side. But after only a few steps, her eyes widened.
Ethan—wearing a Team Rocket uniform, standing with the enemy.
She froze as if struck by lightning, her heart sinking.
"Ethan… you're with Team Rocket?" Her voice trembled, disbelief and betrayal mingling together.
Ethan blinked, deadpan. "…Sister, it's not what you think."
"I don't need your excuses," Cynthia snapped, cutting him off with a wave of her hand. "I'm so disappointed in you."
Ethan twitched, resisting the urge to shout. "Actually, I—"
"I have to tell Mr. Fuji at once," she interrupted again. "The spy in the Pokémon House is you!"
His expression darkened. "…Seriously?"
He turned to Sabrina, who was watching from the side, amused. "Go ahead. Teach this girl a lesson before she loses her mind."
Sabrina chuckled softly. A Poké Ball floated from her belt, opening in midair. Alakazam emerged in a shimmer of red light, spoons glinting ominously.
Cynthia's face flushed red as she saw Ethan speaking so casually with another woman—and worse, one smiling at him. Her jaw clenched, eyes burning.
"Thieves and liars!" she spat furiously. "You're no better than traitors. Garchomp—Sandstorm!"
"Gaaaarchomp!"
Her dragon roared, tail slamming the ground. Dust and grit whirled upward, spiraling into a raging sandstorm that engulfed all of Lavender Town. Trainers and Rockets alike shielded their faces, coughing.
Sabrina, unbothered, flicked her fingers. A faint psychic aura formed a clear barrier around her and Ethan, the storm cut off like glass.
Ethan stepped closer, unimpressed. "Can't help it. I'm too outstanding—it's only natural she likes me."
Sabrina glanced back at him, surprised he'd entered her barrier. "…You're a bit shameless."
"If a man isn't a little bad, a woman won't love him."
Her frown deepened. "Keep talking and I'll throw you out."
"I believe you," Ethan said with a smirk. "But if you do, your Alakazam will already be in trouble."
At that moment, Garchomp had vanished underground, the earth cracked where it had dug.
"Alakazam, Telekinesis—up, now!" Sabrina commanded telepathically.
Alakazam's eyes glowed. In a flash, it floated high into the air, narrowly avoiding the ambush as Garchomp erupted upward, claws slashing empty air.
"Garchomp, Dragon Rage!" Cynthia ordered.
The dragon's chest swelled. With a roar, it spat a blazing beam of energy shaped like a dragon's head toward Alakazam.
"Teleport! Disable!" Sabrina countered instantly.
Alakazam vanished just before the blast connected, reappearing behind Garchomp with its spoons leveled. Twin beams shot forward, freezing the dragon mid-motion.
Pinned in place, Garchomp could only growl as Sabrina's smile sharpened. "Let's finish this. Psycho Cut—then Psychic!"
Alakazam's spoons slashed, sending twin psychic blades tearing into Garchomp's hide. Then, with a surge of mental force, it lifted the dragon into the air, twisting its body violently before slamming it into the ground.
The sandstorm died instantly. Dust settled over Lavender Town as silence fell.
"Garchomp!" Cynthia cried, rushing to her partner's side. Her heart ached at the sight of her fallen dragon. She turned, eyes burning with hatred, glaring at Ethan.
"You bastards! Traitors! One day, you Rockets will pay for this!"
Ethan kept his expression calm, though the words stung. Around them, the trainers of Lavender Town faltered, their morale crumbling at Garchomp's defeat.
Murmurs spread like wildfire:
"He's with Team Rocket? I thought he was helping us…"
"An undercover agent… I can't believe it."
"He even scammed me out of money—refund!"
Ethan sighed, exasperated. These idiots…
Sabrina, delighted, only watched as the accusations piled on. Ethan turned toward her with dry sarcasm. "So… when exactly do you foresee our duel? Might as well give me a time."
She smiled faintly. "Soon. After this girl falls, it'll be your turn."
Ethan pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. With a flash, Munchlax appeared at his side. Together, they walked out of the Rocket line toward the open battlefield.
The Lavender Gym students panicked, assuming Ethan meant to punish them.
"Director, please spare me!" one cried, dropping to his knees. "Don't take my Krabby—it was a gift from my father! Please!"
Another shoved forward. "Don't sell mine! Sell his!"
"Shut up, you idiots," Ethan muttered, face twitching.
Cynthia's glare cut like steel. "You damned liar. You'll rot in hell."
Ethan gave up on words. "Munchlax, Metronome."
The battlefield shook as the next storm prepared to break.